Circuit-closer.



D. A. MCGONNELL.

CIRCUIT CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.17, 1910.

Patented June 30, 1914 a Vw@ Wto@ DUNCAN A. MCCONNELL, 0F ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 LOVELL-MCCONNELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OCE' NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

CIRQUE-CLOSER.

merece.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 3Q, fail-t.

AppIication filed August 17, 191.0. v Serial No. 577,623.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DUNCAN A. MoCoN- NELL, a citizen of the United States, and

resident of Arlington, in the county of Hud-A son and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Closers, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to devices for closing and opening electric circuits, and particularly to push-button circuit closers and circuit closers of other types such as are adapted for positive operation to close or to open a circuit, and the object of my invention is to embody in such devices certain novel and-useful features of construction. The specific device in which I have embodied these features is a push-button circuit closer adapted for positive manual operation in one direction to close an alarm or signal circuit, the movement in the opposite direction to open the circuit being preferably effected automatically by spring pressure, upon release of the manual or other positive operating pressure. It was primarily designed for use on automobiles as a push-button for sounding KlaXon or other electrically controlled or operated horns, though it is obvious that it is equally well adapted for use in other relations where push-buttons or other electric switches are used.

Among the novel features of the invention may be mentioned the terminal-blocks for clamping the wires or conductors, the leafspring contact for bridging the terminal blocks, the lock for preventing operation of the push-button, the provisions for convenient assembly of the various parts, and the novel structure of the case for inclosing the parts.

In general, the invention may be said to consist in the parts, arrangements and combinations as hereinafter described and as pointed out more particularly in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the features of the invention in their preferred embodiments: Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe device attached to a supporting surface showing the locking collar screwed down; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the device showing the locking collar screwed-up; Fig. 3 is a plan View ofthe base and the parts mounted thereon; Fig. a is a section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the spring Contact; Fig. 9. is a bottom plan view of the casing.

' The device preferably includes an exterior casing 10. This is preferably a box like structure of which the top sides and ends are preferably formed integrally of die-cast metal and the bottom 12 is a removable plate or base preferably inset on a rabbet 13 so as to be flush with theA sides and ends. Means for attaching the casing to a support may be provided in the nature of outward projecting lugs 11 integral with the bottoms of the end walls and apertured for the reception of attaching screws. The base is preferably secured to the casing by means of screws 15 which pass upward through openings 16 in the base into internallythreaded pillars 17 formed integral with the side walls of the casing. A depending apertured boss 18 is preferably integral with the top of the casing and has lateral extensions 19 which are integral with the upper parts of the pillars 17 The pillars, boss and. extensions together constitute an inverted U- shaped reinforcing web or rib on the inside of the casing.

Terminal blocks 2O and 21 are secured tothe base 12 at the upper side thereof and v f in spaced relati0n,'being preferably located adjacent the opposite ends of the base. The blocks are suficiently spaced inward from the margins of the base so that there is no danger of their contacting with the side or end walls of the casing. Insulating material,

base is completed by insulating sleeyes or bushings 24 surrounding the screws 22. arid-'a by insulating washers 25 beneath the heads of the screws. l The terminal-blocks 20 and 21 are in the nature of sectional clamps; and inthe preerred construction they have parallel openings or passages 26 for the reception of the ends of the wires or conductors, and recesses 27 formed centrally of their tops between the screws 22, and transversely of said openings 26. lnv these recesses clamping plates 28 are seated and held againstrota` tion. ll prefer to provide complementary grooves in the under sides of these clamping plates and the bottoms of the recesses 27 as shown in Fig. 2, to constitute continuations of the passages 26. The clamping plates are secured by clamping screws 31 which pass upward through unthreaded openings in the blocks and are threaded at their upper ends into the clamping plates. The heads of these screws are countersunk in enlarged openings 34 in the base 12, so that they do not touch the base, and preferably the insulating sheet 30 is cut away at these points so as to permit the heads of the screws to secure a solid bearing against the bottoms of the terminal` blocks. The wires or conductors 33 are led through openings in one oit the side walls of the casing, said openings being in alinement with the openings 26 in the terminal blocks and preferably having insulating bushings 35 threaded therein. y35 In assembling the device, the base with the terminal blocks thereon, is secured to the casing by means of the screws 15, the conductors are then inserted through the openings 32 into the openings 26 and beneath1 the clamping plates 28, and the screws 31 are then tightened at the under side of the base 12. The base 12 and casing 10 are now locked togetherthrough the instrumentality of the screws 31, the clamping plates 28, and the conductors 33, irrespective of the screws 15. The heads of' the screws 31 are now covered with wax or other suitable plastic insulating material which is filled into the openings 34, flush with the bottom` of the base 12. Such insulating sealing material is indicated at 36 in Fig. 2 as applied to one of openings 34. The device may be put upon the market in this condition, with the conductors'already inserted,

and the concealment of the heads of the clamping screws is to an extent a .protection against tampering, though the waX may be readily removed if it is necessary at any time to adjust the screws. The wax prevents short-oircuiting through accidental connection or the screw heads by an instrument or otherwise. i

So far as above described the terminalblocks may` be, and preferably are, precisely similar, and this tends to simplify meiste and cheapen manufacture. Tny use, however, the inner upper edgel of one terminal block 2O is utilized as the fixed contact of the circuit-closer, and a movable circuitclosing member is preferably secured to the other terminal block 21 by means of the screws 22 whereby said the base.v This member, which is preferably in the form of a durable leaf sprng 37 of conducting material', is shaped. and secured `in position to be forced downward and engage-the contact edges of the opposite terminal block to close the circuit. Preferably,

the strip of which this member is made is reversely bent, to allo-rd a greater edectiv'e length of the spring, improving the spring action by rendering its resilient resistance more uniform throughout its range of movement. Tt is 'preferably downwardly bent intermediate the xed end and the contact end thereof to conform in a general way to the depression between the terminal blocks. This downwardly bent portion adords a seat for the push-button, whereby the spring contact is depressed, and moreover the upward bend toward the free end causes the latter to have a wiping contact with the cooperative contact edge of the fixed-contact terminal-block 20. The use of a continuous sheet of insulating material extending beneath both blocks and the space between them is of advantage in such a relation, inasmuch as it affords' additional protection against accidental contact of the spring member with the base, thus guarding against current leakage and possible shock ing of the user or the push-button. Tn the preferred form ot the leaf-spring contact 37 illustrated herein, there is a comparatively narrow shank 41, in which is formed the downward bend between the contact blocks, and two transversely elongated end portions 42 and 43. The shank 41 is reversely bent over the end portion 42, and the laterally projecting parts of this end portion are secured by the screws 22 to the parts of the top of the terminalblock 21 at each side of the recess 27 and the clamping plate 28. Thus, the spring contact is adaptedv for attachment to convenient bearing surfaces, and/at the same time the screws 22 are loblock is secured to cated at each side of the shank 41 where they may be readily manipulated. The transversely elongated end portion 43 enables the spring-contact to engage with the inneruppervedges of the terminal-block 20 at each side of the recess 27 therein.

-The push-button operates through a ceni The cup 48 may be an integral enlargement of the stem, and receives an insulating plug 49 which contacts with the top of the leafspring 37 and which may be held in place by spinning over the edge of the cup. The top of the cup `constitutes a shoulder to cooperate with the lower end of the boss 18, to limit the upward movement of the pushbutton. The lower end of the boss 18 is preferably provided with an inturned flange or ledge 50, and the push-button is preferably guided by the stem sliding lin contact with this ledge. The push-button may be further guided by providing the cap 47 with a depending skirt 51 which contacts slidably with the outside of t-he boss 45.

' The cap is preferably secured to the upper end of the stem by passing a reduced portion of the stem thro-ugh an opening in the cap and upsettin the end of this reduced portion. The spring contact 37 may be assisted in raising the push-button by a coil spring 52 about the stem 46 and confined between the under side of the cap 47 angl the ledge 50.

An important feature of the ,invention is a lock for holding the push-button against depression. This lock is preferably in the nature of a screwl collar 56 threaded upon the skirt of the cap 47, and forming what may `be considered as an adjustable lower edge` for the latter. When this collar is screwed down into contact with the top of the case it locks the ush-button in the outermost position, so that the circuit-closer is inoperative until the collar has been screwed up sufficiently to permit downward movement of the plunger to the extentlrequired for closing the circuit. This collar is intended as a safety device to prevent tampering with the push-button or closing the circuit by unaut-horized persons at times when the apparatus may be left without an attendant. When screwed down into contact with the top of the casing10, it appears to benothing more than an external boss surrounding the push-button and does not in any way suggest its function as a lock. The threads on the skirt of the cap 47 are formed on the lower part thereof only, so that even when the collar 56 is screwed down to the limit these threads are not revealed. This contributes to the concealment of the character of the collar, and also serves to` prevent the collar being removed over the top of the `cap 47. This latter function, may also be served by upsetting the threads of the col-v lar at the lower end thereof, since the stop afforded in this way is less likely to jam or stick.

In order to prevent rotation of the pushbutton when the collar is manipulated, I prefer to provide a key and a. key-way for the stem 46. Preferably the key 61 1s on the stem and thevkey-way 62 in the ledge 50,

'which has a vertical thickness substantially ,'omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms, proportions, sizes and details of the device and of its operation, may be made without departing from my invention.

I claim:

1. In a push-button circuit closer, the combination of a casing having internally threaded pillars integral with its side walls and a boss integral with and projecting downward from the top of the casing and having lateral extensions integral with the upper parts of said pillars, said pillars, boss and extensions together constituting an inverted U-shaped reinforcing web, a base, screws passing upward through the base and threaded into said pillars, nor- `mal1yseparated contact members carried by the base, and a push-button working in a passage formed through said boss and the top of the casing 2. In a push-button circuit closer, the combination of a casing having a boss projecting upward from the top thereof and a passage formed through said boss and the top, and a push-button consisting of a stem passing through said passage and a cap secured to the upper end of said stem and on said boss and adjustable in respect to said Itop.

3. In a `push-button circuit closer, contacts, a casing, a push-button reciprocable in an opening in said casing and having its portion above the casing externally threaded, and a locking collar threaded on said push-button and adapted to be screwed down on the casing to prevent depression of said push-button, the threads of said collar being mutilated at the lower end so as to afford a stop to limit upward movement of the collar on the push-button.

4. lIn a push-button circuit-closer, contacts, a cover thereover, a push-button working through said cover, a locking collar threaded on said push-button for being screwed down to prevent depression of said push-button, and a key and key-way between the button and the cover for prevent: ing rotation of' said push-button during the manipulation of the locking collar.

5. A circuit closer comprising relatively movable contacts and a plunger for effecting relative movements of said contacts, in combination with a locking collar rotatably having a skirt slidably inclosing and guided plunger.

mounted upon said plunger and longitudinally adjustable thereon to permit or prevent inward longitudinal movement of said 6. A circuit closer comprisin relatively movable contacts and a plunger or effecting relative movements of said contacts, in combination with a locking collar rotatably mounted upon said plunger for adjustment thereon to permit or prevent inward longitudinal movement of said plunger and means for preventing rotation of said plunger dur ing rotation of said locking collar. I

7 ln a push-button circuit closer, contacts, a cover therefor, a push-button operating through said cover, and a locking collar threaded on said push-button tor locking the button in an inoperative position.

8. ln a push-button circuit closer, contacts, a cover thereton'a push-button working through said cover, a collar adjustably mounted on said buttonand encircling the same for engaging said cover and for thereby locking the button` in aninoperative posi tion.

9. ln a push-button circuit closer, contacts, a cover, a push-button operating through said cover, and vprovided with threads for receiving a locking collar, a locking collar threaded on said button and forming an adjustable edge' therefor, said collar being of sutlicient width to conceal the threads on the button in all its positions along the button.

10. ln a push-button circuit closer, contacts, a push-button'for electrically connecting the contacts, terminals, and adjustable means mounted on the push-button for locking it in an inoperative position. I

11. ln a push-button circuit closer, contacts, a push-button adapted to close said contacts on depression, a guide for said button, and a'collar concentric with said but* ton and normally ino erative, but adjustable to prevent suitmicient depression of said button to close said contacts. v

12. ln a Ausb-button circuit closer, contacts, a pus button adapted-to close said contacts on depression, and a collar concentric with said button and normally inoperative, but adjustable to prevent sucient depression of'said button to close said contact.

13. ln a circuit closer,the combination of circuit terminal blocks and a member adapted to bridge said blocks, saidv bridging member being normally in out-df-contact position, means for operating the bridging member to close the circuit, asupport for the operating member, and means rotatable independently ot the operating'means and cooperating with said support for locking the operating means in inoperative position.

14. ln a circuit closer, the combination ot va casing, circuit termiunall blocks and a resilimenace ent member adapted to bridge said blocks the casing, and means on the exterior ot thecasing and having threaded engagement with the pin adapted to abut against the outer wall of the casing and lock the pin in inoperative position.

15. ln a circuit closer, the combination of circuit terminals and a member adapted to bridge said terminals, said bridging member normally maintaining the circuit open between said terminals, means or operating the bridging member to close the circuit at will comprising a depressible element sup ported to operate the bridging member when depressed, said element having a threaded part, and means coperating with the threaded part of said element to lock the element in inoperative positionl in order to prevent the depression thereof.

16. ln a circuit closer, the combination of circuit terminals and a member adapted to bridge the terminals, said circuit being no1'- mally open between said terminals, a support, an element for operating the bridgingmember to close the circuit, said element being dcpressible with relation to said support and keyed to prevent rotation thereof in dependent of the support, and means cooperating with the support and the keyed operatingr element for locking the latter in inoperative position.

17. ln a circuit closer, the combination of a casing, circuit terminal blocks and a, member adapted to bridge said blocks located within the casing, said bridging member normally maintainin tween said blocks, depressible means accessible fromthe exterior of the casing for operating the :bridging member to closethef circuit and comprising a pin keyed to the casing to prevent rotation thereof inde pendent of the casing,"a part on the exterior of the casing'rigid with the pin and having screw threads on the exterior'thereot, and

an internally threaded locking member ar ranged to run on the screw-threaded part and adapted-to lock the pin in inoperative' position.

18.7*111 a circuit closer, the combination oit' a casing having an opening inthe top wall; circuit terminal blocks and a member adapted to bridge 'said blocks loca within the circuit open be-- ico the casing, said bridging member being j'normally disposed out et contact-.with vone otsaid blocks, means for operating the` bridging member to close the circuit comprising a pin` extending into the casing throughsaid opening and yieldingly mounted to be .de. pressed and restored, means for preventing the relative rotationofthe pin and casing, a

ire

thimbie rigidly mounted on the outer' end and State of New Jersey' this 15 day of of the pin and having threads at one end of August, A. D. 1910.

the exterior thereof and a threaded element coperating with the threaded thimble and A DUNCAN A' MCCONNELL' 5 the casing adapted to lock the pin in inopex- Witnesses:

ative position. GEORGE C. DEAN,

Signed at Newark in the county of Essex IRVING M. WRIGHT. 

